Counting mechanism



Oct} 5, 1937. F. L. FLEMING w 2,094,644

COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1934 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Inventor By 191036 flaming Oct. 5, 1937. F. L. FLEMING COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9,1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 miug Inventor A llorney Patented Oct. 5, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My present invention relates to counting mechanisms of the packageoperated type, and while the mechanism is well adapted for use withvarious kinds of packages, it is especially designed 5 for counting andregistering the number of sacks of grain delivered from a harvestingmachine. In carrying out my invention I utilize any standard registeringdevice that is suitable for my purpose, and combine therewith anoperating mech- 10 anism that is intermittently actuated by the movingsacks of grain, which mechanism is simple in construction and operation,inexpensive in the cost of manufacture, durable, and eflicient in itsoperation.

15 The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangementsof parts as will hereinafter he more fully set forth and claimed. In theaccompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment 20 of my invention wherein the parts are combinedand arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for thepractical application of the principles of my invention. It will beunderstood however, that changes and alterations may 25 be made in theexemplifying structure, within the scope of my claims without departingfrom the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the platform and delivery chuteof a harvesting machine,

30 the chute being equipped with the device of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation with the dustproof glass housing brokenaway to disclose the register, and showing the retaining means for thehousing.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view with some parts shown in elevation,as at line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In order that the general assembly and utility of parts may readily beunderstood I have shown in Figure 1 the usual platform P that isattached in convenient position to the side of the harvester where themen work in sacking or filling the sacks with grain and in sewing thesacks.

After the sacks are sewed they are placed, singly,

in the chute C and slide down the chute to be disposed of in suitablemanner.

In carrying out my invention I employ a standard register R, forcounting and register- 50 ing the sacks as they slide down the chute,and

the register is provided with an actuating button, as R. that isdepressed to count each sack as it passes down the chute. The operatingmechanism of my invention co-operates with 55 the button R, bydepressing it to actuate the register, and of course the depressedbutton rises after each depression.

The operating mechanism is located in a suitable position on the chute,and supported above the chute by means of attaching plates 1, I, and theside arms 2, 2, that are hinged to the plates at 3 and these side armsare braced by means of diagonal braces 4, attached to the arms and tothe side walls of the chute.

A rectangular base plate 5 is mounted above the chute on the arms 2, 2,and the register R and the operating mechanism are conveniently locatedand supported on the base plate above the chute, the operating mechanismof course being disposed in the path of movement of the sacks as theyslide down the chute by gravity.

The plate is bolted at 6 to the supporting yoke that is formed by thesearms 2, 2, and a package-actuated trip arm or actuating arm I isdisposed longitudinally of the chute in position for the sacks to passunder the arm and in contact therewith. One end of the arm is hinged orpivoted at 8 in a supporting flange 9 of the base plate, and the freeend of the arm is suspended by means of a bolt H! which is passedthrough a hole in the base plate and provided with an adjusting nut I l.The lower end of the suspending bolt is provided with a T-head l 2 andthe bolt is passed upwardly through a hole l3 in the operating arm. Atransversely extending bend I4 is fashioned in the operating arm,thereby forming a groove or seat at the underside of the arm for theT-head, and in this manner the arm is suspended in operative position,and its free end is adapted to be lifted by a passing sack of grain.

The operating arm co-operates with an operating bolt I5 which isprovided with a head [6 resting at all times on top of the arm, and aspring I! coiled about the lower end of the bolt and interposed betweenthe base plate and the head I6, tends at all times to project theoperating bolt downwardly and to depress the free end of the operatingarm.

A guide sleeve or tube l8 for the operating bolt is threaded in a holein the base plate and a lock nut 19 fixes the guide sleeve in desiredposition. As shown in the drawings the operating bolt passes upwardlythrough this sleeve, and a laterally extending presser-arm 20 is mountedon the upper end of the bolt. The arm is clamped in adjusted position bymeans of two clamp nuts 2| and 22 threaded on the end of the operatingbolt, and the lower nut 22 forms a stop for the downward movement of thebolt against the operating arm. The nuts may be adjusted to regulate thetension of the spring ll and to regulate the movement of the operatingbolt and the presser-arm that is rigidly mounted thereon.

As seen in Figure 3 the free end of the presser-arm projects over andremains at all times in contact with the top of the button R of theregister, and the down-stroke of the presser-arm is the working strokeof the register, through the instrumentality of the button R. From thisdescription it will be apparent that the passage of the sack down thechute results in lifting the free end of the operating arm, and that theoperating bolt is lifted, against the tension of its spring, and thebolt carries with it the presser-arm 29. This action permits the buttonR to rise to position so that it will be depressed for its workingstroke after the sack passes from under the operating arm and out ofcontact therewith. After the sack has passed, the compressed spring I lforces the operating bolt downwardly, and the free end of the operatingarm is thereby lowered until its movement is stopped by the T-head andnut ll of the suspending bolt.

To those familiar with existing conditions about the harvester duringthreshing operations,

it is well known that the atmosphere is filled with fine dust thatpenetrates all openings in the various mechanisms, and to protect theregister from deteriorating eifects of the dust, I provide a glasshousing 23, in the form of an inverted cup or jar that encloses theregister, the presser-arm, and the guide sleeve and operating boltwithin the sleeve. The housing at its lower edge is suitably fixed in aseat formed by the use of an annular series of upraised flanges 25 orlugs struck from the metal. of the base plate, and an interior gasket 25is provided for the joint between the housing and the base plate to makea dust-proof joint.

The housing may readily be removed and replaced, and for retaining it inplace over the protected parts I employ a spring bail 26 that clamps onthe depressed top of the housing, and the ends of this spring bail arehinged to the base plate at 21. In order to remove the housing thespring bail is swung on its hinges to release the housing, and then thelatter may readily be moved or removed to gain access to the registerand other parts of the device.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In actuating means for a countingmechanism, the combination with a base plate having spaced openings andan upright guide sleeve secured in one of said openings above the plate,and an operating bolt movable in the sleeve and having a head below theplate, of an operating arm hinged at one end beneath the plate, asuspending bolt passed through the other opening, co-acting means on thesuspending bolt and arm to limit downward swing of the latter, and aspring interposed between the head of the operating bolt and the baseplate.

2. In actuating means for a counting mechanism, the combination with abase plate having spaced openings and an upright guide sleeve secured inone of said openings above the plate, and an operating bolt movable inthe sleeve and having a head beneath the plate, of an operating armhinged at one end beneath the plate, a spring interposed between thebase plate and bolthead for holding the latter in contact with said arm,a suspending bolt loosely supported in the other opening and passingloosely through a hole adjacent the free end of said arm, said armhaving a transversely extending groove in its under face, and a T-headon said suspending bolt located in said groove for limiting the downwardswing of said arm.

FLOYD L. FLEMING.

